Republic book 8 and 9

Question 1

What are the forms of government in order, according to Socrates, best to worst?

Answer 1

Aristocracy, Timocracy, Oligarchy, Dimocracy, and Tyranny

Question 2

Describe how Timocracy will devolve. why? 3-6 sentences

Answer 2

Timocracy will devolve into oligarchy when people start to care more about and honor riches than virtue and good people. It would then be able to devolve even further because once people honor riches more than virtue they are bound to further neglect the good people and poor people. This in turn causes people to further praise and admire the rich man. pg. 411

Question 3

Describe how Aristocracy will devolve. why? (3-6 sentences)

Answer 3

There will be a change between Aristocracy and Oligarchy. The constitution would have something of its own while also imitating the old constitution and oligarchy, being between them (pg. 407). It will devolve because when times change people change, and opinions in turn change. People may not always want the same constitution and want more fair or just ones.

Question 4

Describe the characteristics of a democracy according to Socrates.
Recall that Athens is a democracy. Do you think that Socrates’ description of democracy is accurate with respect to Athens?

Answer 4

The characteristics of democracy are its insatiate desire for that which it sets before itself as a good and a duty– to become as rich as possible (pg 416). In a democracy, everyone who is rich’s goal is to become even more rich and even more honorable. Athens’s description of democracy does not sound accurate to Athens. Athens was rich but the Athenians were told to strive to be virtuous and knowledgable. They did not dwell on the thought of riches like Socrates says people do in a democracy.